Catcher and delivery system for railways.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

M. G. KBBFE. GATCHER AND DELIVERY SYSTEM FORRAILWAYS.

AIPLIOATION FILED T15R19, 1907.

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GAIGHER AND DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 1'33. 19 1907.

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PATENTEDSEPT. 1'7, 1907.

M. G. KEEFE. GATCHER AND-DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIUATION FILED I'EB.19, 1907.

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UNIT D STATES MICHAEL GALLAGHAN KEEFE, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY TIME- SAVING ASSOCIATION, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

CATCHER AND DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 19, 1907- Serial No. 358,312.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL CALLAG-HAN Knnrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt LakeOity, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Catcher and Delivery Systems for Railways, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention comprises an improved system for the safe and certain delivery to, and the receiving from moving trains orders, packages, staiis etc., and includes the novel mechanism composing the different parts of the system herein described.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, its various parts being referred to by numeral characters.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a station standard, and its appurtenances Fig. 2 is a plan of the standard base plate. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the ring holder, having its upper curve broken off. Fig. 4 is a plan of the upper part of the standard and its connections. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of parts of the system attached to a car of a train, the mechanism being in operative position. Fig. 6 is a similar View, but with the mechanism dropped, or out of service. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of a base frame, or plate, and showing the actuating mechanism thereon. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of the catcher stem, mounted for service. Fig. S 'is a similar view of the ring-holder stem. Fig. 9 is a portion of the rear end of a freight car or caboose with part of my invention thereon, and adapted to take the upper ring at the station and to de liver its own ring at the same time. Fig. 9 is a similar View adjusted to deliver its own ring, and to take the lower ring from the station. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a part of the invention attached to the engine cab.

The numeral 10 designates the base of the station standard 11, which is rotatably mounted on a plate 12, on the top of said base. The lower part 13 of the standard is of reduced diameter, and cylindrical; and extending through an opening 14 in plate 12, is stepped in a cross-tie 14, at the bottom of the base. A drop lever 15, connected to the standard rotates the latter to expose lights and other signals on the standard, and to move the catcher mechanism in and out of service. Checks 16; are provided on plate 12 to limit the movement of the lever and standard, and adjacent recesses 17, 17, receive the lever when dropped, which locks the standard in the desired position.

On the standard 11, at the proper altitude and distance from the track rails, are mounted the catching and delivering devices. I prefer to arrange them as shown in Fig. 1; the catcher being attached to a cross piece 18, and a ring 21 above and below the catcher.

the spring 19.

22 indicates a ring holder, secured to the standard in any preferred way. It is here shown to have a bolt and is provided which passes throughthe standard, with a terminal nut. The ring holder has a ring seat 23 for the rings 21, each ring being lightly held in its seat by springs 24, on the holder. These springs are straight except at their outer parts which hold the ring. One of the springs is longer than the other, and presents a concave surface to the ring, which is lightly held in the concavity by the pressure of the shorter 7O spring, the shorter spring being 011 the side opposite to the approaching train, and readily allowing the ring to be pulled out of the holder by the catch on the train. To the rings are secured receptacles for messages, mail pouches or any article to be delivered.

The parts of the system connected with the train comprise a plate or frame 24, held in place by arms 25 attached to its rear side and extending to the car or engine-cab, on which sockets or straps 26, are provided to hold their bent ends. only one spring and arm, but they may be turned in either direction, or lowered out of service by means now to be described. The stem 30 of the catcher has a sleeve 23", which is securedon a rock-shaft 27 which is held by straps 28, on frame 2 1. An aperture 24 per- '85 mits the end of the stem 30 to be passed through the plate where it is connected to a link 23 This link is kept in place by a head 23 on the stem, and connects with the operating lever system. The stem 33 of the ring holder 34, is secured to a vertical rock-shaft 35,

An arm 39 is pivoted to the end of lever 37, and to a 1 bell crank 40, which in turn connects with the link 33 attached to the stem 33 of the ring holder. .It is evident that on depressing the lever 37, the catcher and ring holder are brought into operative position,

and on releasing and elevating said lever the catcher and ring holder move out of service.

The catcher on the train has 80 As illustrated in Figs. 9, 9 and 9 the plate 24, carrying the car mechanism may be placed at varying al titudes to receive from, or deliver to the station standard, whose rings and catcher require such adjustment. So that staffs may be delivered to the engineer; mail pouches to the postal car, and packages to the conductor of the same train.

What I claim and desire to secure, is-

1. In a catcher system for railway trains, a standard base, a top plate with central aperture thereon, a cross-tie near its bottom, a standard resting on said plate, a reduced, cylindrical extension of said standard passedthrough the aperture in said plate and stepped in said cross-tie, and means to rotate said standard for the purpose specified.

2. In a catcher system for railway trains, a standard base, a top plate with central aperture, thereon, a cross-tie near its bottom, a standard resting on said plate, a reduced cylindrical extension of said standard passed through the aperture in said plate, a jointed drop lever connected to said standard above said plate to rotate said standard, checks on said plate to limit said rotation, and notches in said plate to engage said lever when it is dropped, as herein set forth.

3. In a catcher system for moving trains, a ring holder, a ring seat thereon, a ring holder stem attached to a fixed support, leaf springs on said stem one of which overlaps a part of the ring and the other of said springs presses against the side of said part of said ring, for the purpose specified.

4. In a catcher system a standard, a cross piece thereon, an outwardly curved spring having a retroverted end, on said cross piece, an arm on said cross piece whose terminal portion receives a yielding pressure from said spring and a bend in said arm to check the movement of an article caught in the catcher.

5. In a catcher mounted on a plate attachable to a car, a stem on said catcher mounted on a rock-shaft journalcd on said frame, and lever connections to actuate said catcher stem for the purpose specified.

6. In a catcher, a ring holder, a stem therefor attached to a vertical rock-shaft revolubly mounted on a supporting plate, and a link and lever connection to actuate said stem as described.

7. In a railway catcher system a plate attachable to a car, a hand lever fulcrumed on said plate, an arm pivoted on said lever and having a link connection with the stem of a catcher, a second armjointed to said lever and pivoted to a bell crank, a link connecting said bell crank with the stem of a ring holder and means to hold said lever in the desired position, substantially as herein set forth.

8. In a railway catcher system a catcher, a stem thereon, a sleeve on said stem having a longitudinal extension, :1

rock-shaft mounted on a supporting plate having an adjacent aperture therein, a stud on said stem to engage said extension on said sleeve, and means to actuate said catcher stem, for the purpose specified.

E). In a railway catcher system arotatable standard at the railway station, means for locking said standard,

.means on said standard for removably holding delivery rings, means for catching rings from passing trains, catchers on the train to take rings from the standard and rings on the train adapted to be caught by the station catcher, said catcher on the train mounted to be raised and lowered, and said ring holder adapted to be. swung out of service, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LIICHAEL CALLAGHAN KEEFE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. RAINES,

LAURENCE G. Knnrn. 

